EU wheat output is set to rise by 3% for the 2010/11 marketing season but global production will fall by 4%, a Bord Bia report has predicted.

A recovery in French, German and British output is expected to lead to overall EU production increasing by close to 134 million tonnes, according to analysts.

Output from the top three EU wheat producers - France, Germany and Spain - is expected to grow by 4% to 79 million tonnes as a consequence of higher planted areas and some anticipated yield improvement on last year.

On a global level, however, the International Grains Council predicts that world wheat output will fall by 4% to 653 million tonnes in 2010/11.

Total EU wheat availability is expected to rise almost in line with production forecasts. With little change in EU domestic use and trade, closing stocks are expected to rise.

EU wheat availability should rise by 2% by the end of the 2010/11 season to 155 million tonnes on the back of imports increasing by 41% to almost 5 million tonnes and production being 3% higher.

Closing stocks of wheat for the 2010/11 season are expected to increase by 17%, to 19.1 million tonnes.

This reflects higher wheat availability throughout the 2010/11 season, with wheat usage and exports expected to be largely maintained at close to last year's levels.